bk_forever: (Default)
bk_forever ([personal profile] bk_forever) wrote2019-05-22 06:48 pm

BtVS Triple Drabble: Not To Blame

Title: Not To Blame
Fandom: BtVS
Author: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Giles, Buffy.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 009: Blameworthy at tripledrabbles.
Spoilers/Setting: Innocence.
Summary: Giles finds he cannot blame Buffy for what happened with Angel.
Disclaimer: I don’t own BtVS, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Joss Whedon.
A/N: Triple drabble.




Giles doesn’t need to look at Buffy to know how bad she feels; her young heart has been shattered because she loved perhaps unwisely. Now at least one person is dead, and all of her friends’ lives are in danger. She couldn’t have known what would happen, however; as much as she blames herself, Giles finds he can’t do the same. Since when is falling in love blameworthy?


Nevertheless, Buffy expects him to be disappointed in her, play the stern, disapproving father figure, and he could do that, if he felt the situation merited it, but Buffy has never looked younger or more vulnerable, and it’s breaking his heart.


He swore when he was chosen as her Watcher that he would keep a professional distance; he’s no parent, has little experience of teenaged girls, but she’s smart in her way, brave, bold, and he’s already come to love her as a daughter.


She doesn’t need him to pile more guilt on her shoulders; she’s already carrying more than enough. Any more and she might just crumble beneath the burden, right when she’s needed the most. The Judge may have been dealt with, but Angelus is still out there, and Spike and Drusilla. This is far from over.


He could wag his finger at her, tell her she acted rashly, and she’d accept that chastisement as nothing more than she deserved. The Watcher’s Council would most likely tell him it’s his duty to do so; a Slayer consorting with a vampire is unheard of. But he’s not going to do that, because Slayer or not, Buffy is still just a young girl who fell in love and is paying an undeserved price for it. She deserves his compassion, not blame.


All she’ll get from him is his support, and his respect.



The End










 

Misbehaved but penatent stepdaughter for a certain Mr. R. Giles.

[identity profile] vantiri.livejournal.com 2019-05-22 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
This's really pretty darn good quality work: his stepdaughter, as their bond is in the show at least, has taken a lover, something she shouldn't ever do; and now is in a heap of trouble, but constantly getting on her case isn't going to be productive to solving the problem either- so a third solution is vital to producing sound responses.
I thank you for this most enjoyable story, sincerely and truly, not sarcastically at all (which'd be dumb), and this is truly admirable as far as the story essay you have here goes.
Well done and please do keep up the excellent work you have here!
Sincerely one of your hopefully entirely too many fans;
Vantiri.